Marijuana, Tetrahydrocannabinol, and Pulmonary Antibacterial Defenses

Huber, Gary L.; Pochay, V E; Pereira, Wlademir; Shea, Jessica; Hinds, William C.; First, M.W.; Sornberger, G. Clinton

doi:10.1378/chest.77.3.403

Cited by 28 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Previous studies demonstrating that both ⌬ 9 -THS and marijuana smoke can reduce the antibacterial activity of AMs were performed solely with animal cells and animal models (12,(35)(36)(37). Our results are the first to demonstrate that these effects occur in the lungs of habitual smokers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 49%

“…Leukocytes express cannabinoid receptors capable of binding ⌬ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol ( ⌬ 9 -THC), the principal psychoactive component of marijuana (7). When tested in vitro or administered to animals, ⌬ 9 -THC produces a wide range of immunosuppressive effects on T cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages (8)(9)(10)(11)(12). Mice exposed to ⌬ 9 -THC were unable to develop protective immunity against infection by the opportunistic pathogen Le-gionella pneumophila (8).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Marijuana and Cocaine Impair Alveolar Macrophage Function and Cytokine Production

Baldwin

Tashkin

Buckley

et al. 1997

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

218

139

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Use of marijuana and cocaine is on the rise in the United States. Although pulmonary toxicity from these drugs has occasionally been reported, little is known about their effects on the lung microenvironment. We evaluated the function of alveolar macrophages (AMs) recovered from the lungs of nonsmokers and habitual smokers of either tobacco, marijuana, or crack cocaine. AMs recovered from marijuana smokers were deficient in their ability to phagocytose Staphylococcus aureus (p < 0.01). AMs from marijuana smokers and from cocaine users were also severely limited in their ability to kill both bacteria and tumor cells (p < 0.01). Studies using NG-monomethyl-L-arginine monoacetate, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, suggest that AMs from nonsmokers and tobacco smokers were able to use nitric oxide as an antibacterial effector molecule, while AMs from smokers of marijuana and cocaine were not. Finally, AMs from marijuana smokers, but not from smokers of tobacco or cocaine, produced less than normal amounts of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin-6 when stimulated in culture with lipopolysaccharide. In contrast, the production of transforming growth factor-beta, an immunosuppressive cytokine, was similar in all groups. These findings indicate that habitual exposure of the lung to either marijuana or cocaine impairs the function and/or cytokine production of AMs. The ultimate outcome of these effects may be an enhanced susceptibility to infectious disease, cancer, and AIDS.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 49%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Marijuana and Cocaine Impair Alveolar Macrophage Function and Cytokine Production

Baldwin

Tashkin

Buckley

et al. 1997

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

218

139

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the early 1980s, a study reported that the acute inhalation of marijuana smoke impaired the pulmonary antibacterial defense system of rats infected with S. aureus in a dose-dependent manner [36]. A similar model of marijuana smoke inhalation in mice, in a subacute schema, resulted in a higher necrotic index when compared to control mice [37].…”

Section: Marijuana and Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunoregulatory Role of Cannabinoids during Infectious Disease

Hernández-Cervantes

Méndez-Dı́az²,

Prospéro-Garcı́a³

et al. 2017

Neuroimmunomodulation

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Although the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is involved in the regulation of several physiological processes, including sleep and the immune response, its role during infections has not been fully studied. It is well known that the use of this drug increases susceptibility to infections because of the impact on the modulation of the immune system. Concerning the medicinal or recreational use of marijuana, its influence on the course of an infection, whether this has been caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and to a lesser degree, fungi, has been reported. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting the involvement of the ECS in the control and elimination of infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and some protozoa; in the case of fungi, few studies are available so far. The purpose of this review is to present the existing studies related to infections and the ECS, the microbicidal effects of compounds isolated from Cannabis sativa, and the association between marijuana use and the development of rare pathologies in specific diseases.

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“…Experimental animal studies have also suggested that THC treatment causes increased susceptibility to various infectious agents (Table 4). Disease progression and mortality in different animal models were increased on infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Friend leukemia virus (FLV) (35,147,222) and with bacterial pathogens such as Listeria, Treponema, and Staphylococcus (87,149,170).…”

Section: Marijuana-induced Enhancement Of Susceptibility To Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Infections, Immunomodulation, and Drugs of Abuse

2003

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The use of recreational drugs of abuse has generated serious health concerns. There is a long-recognized relationship between addictive drugs and increased levels of infections. Studies of the mechanisms of actions of these drugs became more urgent with the advent of AIDS and its correlation with abused substances. The nature and mechanisms of immunomodulation by marijuana, opiates, cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol are described in this review. Recent studies of the effects of opiates or marijuana on the immune system have demonstrated that they are receptor mediated, occurring both directly via specific receptors on immune cells and indirectly through similar receptors on cells of the nervous system. Findings are also discussed that demonstrate that cocaine and nicotine have similar immunomodulatory effects, which are also apparently receptor mediated. Finally, the nature and mechanisms of immunomodulation by alcohol are described. Although no specific alcohol receptors have been identified, it is widely recognized that alcohol enhances susceptibility to opportunistic microbes. The review covers recent studies of the effects of these drugs on immunity and on increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, including AIDS

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Marijuana, Tetrahydrocannabinol, and Pulmonary Antibacterial Defenses

Cited by 28 publications

References 21 publications

Marijuana and Cocaine Impair Alveolar Macrophage Function and Cytokine Production

Marijuana and Cocaine Impair Alveolar Macrophage Function and Cytokine Production

Immunoregulatory Role of Cannabinoids during Infectious Disease

Microbial Infections, Immunomodulation, and Drugs of Abuse

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